Envelope-making machine

ABSTRACT

An envelope-making machine is shown having interconnected separate stations for producing the edge perforations of individual envelopes, applying adhesive to the lateral edge portions of the envelopes to be connected with each other, staggering the envelopes, aligning the staggered envelopes in accordance with the edge perforations, drying the edge gluing of the endless strip of staggered envelopes, and winding the strip of endless envelopes on a roll.

United States Patent Ehlscheid [451 Aug. 22, 1972 [54] ENVELOPE-MAKING3,565,728 2/1971 Alton ..229/69 X [72] Inventor: Gunter Ehlscheid,Burgstrasse 43,

[22] Filed: July 27, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 58,296

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Aug. 1, 1969 Germany ..P 19 39183.4

[52] US. Cl. ..93/61 R, 93/62 [51] Int. Cl. ..B3lb l/00 [58] Field ofSearch ...93/6l R, 62, 63, 63 M; 229/69 [56] References Cited UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 3,379,103 4/l968 Tretf ..93/62 5453 Niederbieber, GermanyPrimary ExaminerBemard Stickney Att0rneyRichards & Geier ABSTRACT Anenvelope-making machine is shown having interconnected separate stationsfor producing the edge perforations of individual envelopes, applyingadhesive to the lateral edge portions of the envelopes to be connectedwith each other, staggering the envelopes, aligning the staggeredenvelopes in accordance with the edge perforations, drying the edgegluing of the endless strip of staggered envelopes, and winding thestrip of endless envelopes on a roll. 4

2 Clains, 9 Drawing Figures PAT-ENTED M1822 I972 SHEET 2 BF 5 InventorG. EhZsc/vedd GLLWaJcM PATENTEBAUBZZWZ 3,685,402

SHEET 4 BF 6 Inventor A TOILNESS PATENTED nuszz I972 SHEET 5 BF 6 WWWYXW MMM me Q6 whpjw Inc 00 S T 2 h m EU ENVELOPE-MAKING MACHINEDESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a machinefor the manufacture of envelopes, flat bags or the like, hereinafterreferred to merely as envelopes, which produces individual envelopesfrom prestamped blanks or else from a strip or paper or the like in asingle pass through the machine and ejects them or else which connectsthe individual envelopes to form a continuous bank of so-called endlessenvelopes and roll said strip onto a roller.

Such endless envelopes are being used to an increasing extent in orderto address them on tabulating machines or other machines controlled bycomputer, punch tape or other storage. One disadvantage of these endlessenvelopes is that their price has been substantially higher than that ofindividual envelopes. This is due to the fact that the manufacture ofthe endless envelopes has heretofore been expensive either because ofthe fact that the envelopes must be provided with special attachmentsand placed onto a supporting belt which can be used only once'see forinstance British Pat. No. 1,013,552 and US. Pat. No. 3,200,7l9or due tothe adhering of individual envelopes to each other on special perforatedside tabs of the envelopes themselves-see for instance US. Pat. No.3,219,285.

The object of the present invention is to create a machine for theproduction of individual envelopes which ejects said envelopesindividually onto a delivery table or connects them together in a singlepass through the machine without the need of additional step to form acontinuous strip of endless envelopes.

The machine of the present invention eliminates the disadvantages of theprior art structures and may be employed in connection with the standardenvelope machine which operates on prestamped blanks or which mayoperate on a strip of papers or the like. The conventional machine ofthis type has stations for printing the envelope, inserting a window inthe envelope; inserting printed matter, reply envelopes, advertisingmaterial or other insert material into the envelopes and thereafterdelivering the material into a container or the like. The machine ofthis invention is connected between the folding station and the deliverymeans of the conventional envelope machine and includes the followingadditional stations which are connected to one another and form,together with the envelope machine, a single structural unit. Theseadditional stations are defined as follows:

a. A station producing the edge perforations of the individualenvelopes.

b. A station applying adhesive to the lateral edge portions of theenvelopes which are to be glued together.

c. A station staggering the envelopes.

d. A station aligning the staggered envelopes in connection with theedge perforation thereof.

e. A station for drying the edge gluing of the endless strip ofstaggered envelopes, and

f. A station for winding the strip of endless envelopes.

Stations a to f are operatively connected in front of the delivery ofthe individual envelopes to the folding station of the envelope machineso that the machine can either eject individual envelopes onto adelivery table of the envelope machine or else can conduct theindividual envelopes arriving from the folding station of the envelopemachine through stations a to f by-passing the delivery and eject themas an edge-perforated strip of endless envelopes wound onto a roller.

The main advantage of the machine in accordance with this inventionresides in the elimination of a special operator for a separate machinefor the'manufacture of an endless strip of individual envelopes and theelimination of the conveyance to such a separate machine. Also themachine of the invention is adapted for use for the economic productionof normal envelopes if endless envelopes are not to be produced.

The gluing of the individual envelopes which have been previouslyperforated on lateral edge portions is effected by adhesive appliedbetween the edge perforation in order to prevent smearing of the pins ofa pin wheel which engages into the edge perforation upon alignment instation d.

However, it is also possible in accordance with the invention to arrangestation a for the production of the edge perforation behind station efor the drying of the edge gluing of the endless strip and to omitstation d for the aligning of the freshly gummed, staggered letterenvelopes after the edge perforation. In this case adhesive can beapplied to the entire surface of the lateral edge portions of theindividual envelopes which are to be glued to each other. In order toassure the correct position of the edge perforation with respect to thecombined envelopes staggered in the endless strip, there is provided infront of the station for producing the edge perforation a station forthe determining of the position of the individual envelopes in theendless strip by which a correction of any deviations thereof canautomatically be brought about.

Finally, the station for producing the edge perforation can also beprovided in the envelope machine which produces the envelopes or blanksprovided with edge perforation and can be fed from the start forprocessing to the envelope machine. In these cases also the machine ofthe invention affords the aforementioned economic advantages in themanufacture of endless envelopes with edge perforation as compared withmanufacture of such endless envelopes by means of two separate machines.

The above sets forth a brief description of the instant invention andthe proposed objects and advantages thereof. Other objects andadvantages of this invention will become apparent to the reader of thisspecification as the description proceeds.

The invention will now be further described by reference to theaccompanying drawings which are made a part of this specification.

FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 are three consecutive portions of a diagrammaticcross-sectional view of the machine made in accordance with thisinvention.

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic end view of the stations a to e set forthhereinbefore for connecting the individual envelopes into an endlessstrip and shown on an enlarged scale.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are successive diagrammatic end views of an alternate formof the machine of this invention.

FIG. 7 is a front view of an individual edge perforated envelope beforeit is glued together to form an endless strip.

FIG. 8 is a top view of a strip of endless envelopes glued together inaccordance with the method of this invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic side view of the strip of envelopes shown inFIG. 8.

The invention will now be further described by reference to the specificforms thereof as shown in the accompanying drawings. In this connection,however, the reader is cautioned to note that such specific forms ofthis invention as shown herein are for illustrative purposes and for thepurposes of example only. Various changes and modifications canobviously be made within the spirit and scope of this invention withoutdeparting therefrom.

Now referring to the specific form of invention as shown in theaccompanying drawings there is shown conventional envelope machine whichhas a feed 1 which is an operative connection with a pile 2 ofprestamped blanks and a printing cylinder 3 with printing mechanisms 4,5 and 6 printing the individual blanks of pile 2 which pass insuccession through the machine. There is also shown a station 7 for thecutting of window openings throughout the envelopes, station 8 forapplying adhesive about each of the window openings and a station 9 forapplying a section of transparent window material for the window openingof each blank. The window material is supplied in strip form from asupply roll 9. The arrows in FIGS. 1 through 3 show the direction ofrotation of the essential parts of the machine. The blank envelopestravel in the direction indicated by the arrows through the machine asindicated by a thick-line.

The structure previously recited is, of course, conventional and thestructure of this invention is applied to the conventional machine asfollows: A station 10 (FIG. 2) is provided for staggering the blanks, astation 11 (FIG. 2) is provided for applying adhesive to the edges ofthe subsequent closure flaps of the envelopes which lie within the stackand a drying pair 12 (FIG. 2) is provided for the adhesive on thestaggered blanks which extend below the machine. A guide drum 13 (FIG.3) is then provided for conveying the staggered blanks to the top of themachine to a station 14 (FIG. 3) which is provided to convey the blanksindividually from the stack, a station 15 (FIG. 3) for aligning theindividualized blanks, a station 16 (FIG. 3) for the prescoring of thesubsequent fold lines of the envelopes, a folding station 17 (FIG. 3)for folding the side flaps, a station 18 (FIG. 3) for applying adhesivefor the gluing of the bottom flap to the side flaps, a station 19(FIG. 1) for folding the bottom flap, a station 20 (FIG. 1) for foldingtheclosure flap, suction means 21, 22 and 23 (FIG. 1), delivery disks 24(FIG. I) having slots 25 and a delivery table 26.

When individual envelopes are produced with the machine they areinserted after the folding of their closure flaps in station 20 via thesuction means 21, 22, 23 individually into a slot 25 of the deliverydisks 24 and are deposited, standing vertically as a pile 27, in frontof a displaceable stack 28 on the delivery table 26.

The stations located in upward direction behind the suction roller 23serve to connect the individual envelopes together into a strip ofendless envelopes and are designated a to f in the drawing.

The suction roller 23, as can be noted from FIG. 4, has a control slot29 of variable effective length for controlling the suction air at anumber of suction holes 30. Accordingly, depending upon the adjustmentof the length of the control slot 29, it can insert the envelopes whicharrive individually one behind the other either each into a slot 25 ofthe delivery disks 24 or else, if the envelopes are to be connectedtogether to form a strip of endless envelopes, it can carry them alongindividually past the delivery disks 24 below a guide 31 arrangedconcentrically to the suction roller 23 and against a stop 32 theposition of which is adjustable as a function of the length of theenvelopes.

As can be noted from FIG. 4, there are arranged in upward extendingdirection behind the suction roller 23 segments 33 havingcounter-rollers 34, disks 38 having counterrollers 39, and thereupon,rotating at a lower circumferential speed, disks 40 with counter-rollers41. The latter serve to reduce the speed of conveyance of the envelopes.

The segments 33 have a recess 35 the rear edge 36 of v which, as seen indirection of rotation, lies on the radius about 1 mm smaller than thecylinder periphery of the segments, whereby a grasping edge is produced.An envelope 42 the folded closure flap 44 of which rests against thefront of the stop 32 has its bottom edge 43 extending into the recess 35of the segments as shown in FIG. 4. Upon further rotation of thesegments 33 of the edge 36 thereof bends the envelope over until'itcomes against the counter-roller 34in such a manner that the bottom edge43 of the latter which up to now was at the rear in the direction ofconveyance, extends about 3 mm beyond the line connecting the centers ofthe segments 33 and the counterrollers 34. The stop 32 iscorrespondingly adjusted. As soon as the grasping edge 37 grasps theenvelope upon the further rotation of the segments 33, it is conveyedbetween the segments 33 and counter-rollers 34, opposite its previousdirection of conveyance, to the disks 38 and counterrollers 39.

FIG. 7 shows a top view from the side of an individual envelope 47suitable for the manufacture of a strip of endless envelopes on themachine of the invention. The envelope has a bottom edge 43, a closureflap 44 and lateral edge parts 45. The edge perforation is indicated by46 and the adhesive applied between the edge perforations by 47. A pieceof an endless strip 54 of envelopes which are glued together is shown intop view in FIG. 8 and in schematic side view in FIG. 9.

The station a adjoining the disks 38 with counterrollers 39 which isadapted to produce the edge perforation 46 in the side edges of theenvelopes consists of disks 48 with punctures 49 and counter-disks 50with die holes 51. The disks 48, 50 have conveyor rollers 52 withcounter-rollers 53 arranged in front of and behind them.

The main parts of the station b for the application of adhesive to thelateral edges of the envelopes which are to be glued together comprise asuction roller 55 and an applicator roller 56. On the suction roller 55there are arranged two opposing groups of suction holes 57, 57 each ofwhich alternately draws an envelope against it and holds same on thecylindrical surface of the suction roller while profiled gummers 58which are fastened to the applicator roller 56 and receive adhesive froma trough 61 via a scoop roller 59 and intermediate roller 60 applyadhesive spots 47 (see FIG. 7) to the lateral edge parts 45 of eachenvelope. Behind station b are a conveyor roller 62 and counter-rollers63.

' The main parts of the following station c for the staggering of theenvelopes comprise a belt 66 which is tensioned via rollers 64, 65 andhas counter-rollers 68 resiliently supported against the holder 67, allof which rotate with a circumferential velocity of the disks 40, 48 andof the suction roller 55, as well as a roller 69, with counter-rollers70, which rotates with a smaller circumferential speed corresponding tothe desired mutual overlap of the staggered envelopes. Thecounterrollers 63, 68, 70 are so arranged that they do not contact thefreshly applied adhesive. As a result of the lesser circumferentialspeed of the roller 69 and counter-rollers 70 and the change in thedirection of conveyance, each envelope arriving onto the belt 66 is Ipushed partially below the preceding envelope which is already presentbetween the rollers 69 and its counterrollers 70 and is in this waystaggered.

The main parts of the following station (I for the aligning of thestaggered envelopes after the edge perforation thereof comprise disks 71with tapered pins 72 which engage into the edge perforation 46 andcounterrollers 73 with recesses (not shown) for thepins 72. The mainparts of the following station e for the drying of the edge gluing ofthe endless strip comprise lower belts 76 which are tensioned via endrollers 77, 78 and a plurality of supporting rollers 79 and are moved bya drive roller 80, as well as upper belts 81 which are tensioned via endrollers 82, 83 and a plurality of supporting rollers 84 and are carriedalong by friction by the lower belts 76. As a result of the curvature ofthe path of the belts, the lower course of the upper belts 81 pressesthe edges of the strip of endless envelopes firmly against the uppercourse of the lower belts 76.

Between the segments 33 and the end rollers 77, 82 of station e for thedrying of the endless strip there are provided lower guides 85 and upperguides 86 for the envelopes; see FIG. 4.

The main parts of the following station f for the rolling of the stripof endless envelopes comprise a roller 88 which receives the endlessstrip, a guide roller 89 and a light oscillating roller 91 which isswingably supported on arms 90 and hangs within a loop of the endlessstrip, the upward or downward movement of said oscillating roller incase of deviations of the speed of winding of the roller 88 from thespeed of conveyance of the strip of endless envelopes such deviationsare corrected in known manner via limit switches (not shown) or the likeand a control motor. A known device (not shown) for replacing a fullroll by an empty roll can also be provided.

The above description sets forth the principal form of the invention asshown in FIGS. 1 through 4. The alternate form of invention shown inFIGS. 5 and 6 differs from the first embodiment by the position ofstation a for the production of the edge perforation and by theelimination of station d for the aligning of the previouslyedge-perforated envelopes, the place thereof being taken by anotheraligning station g. The convention envelope manufacturing machine is thesame as that shown 'n FIG 1 and therefo e h nl b h in part in FIGS. 5and 6. For all uni h ng ed r i ris t li reference numbers employed inFIGS. 1 to 4 have been retained.

Starting from the suction roller 23 at the deliveryend of the envelopemachine, there are provided, as can be noted from FIG. 5, unchanged, thesegments 33, disks 38, 40 and conveyor rollers 52 as well ascounter-rollers 34, 39, 41 and 53. Station a has been omitted betweenthe pairs of rollers 52, 53. This is followed by station b for theapplication of adhesive with the parts 55 to 61 and the staggeringstation 6 with the parts 62 to 70. The following station d for alignmentafter the edge perforation has been omitted. The end rollers 77, 82 orstation e for the drying of the edge gluing of the endless strip followclosely on the roller 69 with counter-rollers 70.

As can be noted from FIG. 6, the end roller 83 of station e for thedrying of the endless strip 54 is followed by a station g fordetermining the position of the individual envelopes in the endlessstrip, said station comprising a source of light 92 and photoelectriccell 93. It may also consist of other known sensing means. If station gdetects a deviation of the envelopes in the endless strip from theirproper position, it brings about, in known manner, via a servomotor acorresponding correction in the speed of the staggering station 0 andthe drying station e.

Behind the end rollers 78 of the drying station e there is arranged inthe station a for producing the edge perforation, consisting of disks 48with punches 49 and counter-disks 50 with die holes 51. The followingstation f for the rolling up of the band of endless envelopes isunchanged.

The foregoing sets forth the manner in which the objects of thisinvention are achieved.

I claim:

1. In an envelope-making machine, the combination of a device for makingindividual envelopes which comprises stations making envelope blanks,stations folding the flaps of the blanks to produce envelopes, a suctionroller and a delivery table, said suction roller delivering saidenvelopes upon said delivery table; with a device for making strips ofendless envelopes which comprises a guide, said suction roller having acontrol slot adjustable so as to supply the envelopes toward said guide,means receiving the envelopes from said guide and reducing their speed,means producing edge perforations in the envelopes, means applyingadhesive to the edges of envelopes, means staggering the envelopes,means alining the staggered envelopes, whereby the edges of theenvelopes are glued to form an endless strip, means drying the endlessstrip and means rolling the strip into a roll.

2. An envelope-making machine as described in claim 1, including anadditional station for determining the position of the envelopes withinthe endless strip.

1. In an envelope-making machine, the combination of a device for makingindividual envelopes which comprises stations making envelope blanks,stations folding the flaps of the blanks to produce envelopes, a suctionroller and a delivery table, said suction roller delivering saidenvelopes upon said delivery table; with a device for making strips ofendless envelopes which comprises a guide, said suction roller having acontrol slot adjustable so as to supply the envelopes toward said guide,means receiving the envelopes from said guide and reducing their speed,means producing edgE perforations in the envelopes, means applyingadhesive to the edges of envelopes, means staggering the envelopes,means alining the staggered envelopes, whereby the edges of theenvelopes are glued to form an endless strip, means drying the endlessstrip and means rolling the strip into a roll.
 2. An envelope-makingmachine as described in claim 1, including an additional station fordetermining the position of the envelopes within the endless strip.